Title: Vessel%20Safety%20Check%20Review
1Vessel Safety Check Review
Prepared by Vessel Examination Division USCG
Auxiliary, V-Department
2Vessel Safety Checks
- The operative message is
-
- The VSC-DEPT. ------WE DELIVER!
3Vessel Safety Check
4Vessel Safety CheckThe History
- USCGAUX developed the Courtesy Motorboat
- Examination program in 1947 to provide
recreational - boaters an advisory review of their vessels
legally - required equipment and additional recommended
- equipment essential for safe boating.
- It also serves to provide one-on-one education of
- recreational boaters regarding the use of safety
- equipment, legal requirements and regulations,
etc.
5Vessel Safety CheckThe History
- The program evolved with the addition of
sailboats and the name was changed to Courtesy
Marine Examination. - Then, with the addition of the United States
Power Squadrons as partners, it was change to
Vessel Safety Check (VSC). The VSC program now
includes PWC and SUBs.
6Vessel Safety Check
- Vessel Examiners may check Powerboats,
- Sailboats, Personal Water Craft (PWC), and
- Sport Utility Boats (SUB).
- Requests for VSCs on boats larger than 65ft
- in length should be referred to the nearest
- Coast Guard Marine Safety Office (MSO).
7Item 1 - Display of Numbers
- The boats registration number must
- be permanently attached to each
- side of the forward half of the boat.
- They must be plain, vertical, block
- characters, not less than three (3)
- inches high, and in a color
- contrasting with the background.
- A space or hyphen must separate
- the letters From the numbers. Place
- State tax Sticker according to State
- policy. (e.g. FL 1234 AB or FL-1234-
- AB)
8Item 2 - Registration and Documentation
Registration or Documentation papers must be on
board and available. Documentation numbers must
be permanently marked on a visible part of the
interior structure. The documented boats name
and hailing port must be displayed on the
exterior hull in letters not less than 4 inches
in height. To be documented a boat must be 5 net
tons or greater.
9Item 3 Flotation Devices (PFD)
10- Item 3 Flotation Devices (PFD)
- Acceptable PFDs (Life Jackets)
- Must be U.S. Coast Guard
- approved, in good serviceable
- condition, and of suitable size for
- the each person on the boat.
- Children must have properly fitted
- PFDs designed for children.
11Item 3 Flotation Devices (PFD)
- Wearable PFDs shall be "readily
- accessible.
- Throwable devices shall be
- "immediately available.
- PFDs shall NOT be stored in unopened
- Plastic packaging.
12Item 3 Flotation Devices (50 100 MPH PFD)
- WARNING
- 50 100 MPH rated Life-jackets do not protect
wearers from traumatic injury in a high speed
crash. - The impact rating means that the PFD still be
buoyant following a 50 or 100 MPH impact
respectively.
13Item 3 Flotation DevicesNon-Serviceable and
Substandard Type I Unicellular Plastic Foam Life
Preservers
- The US Coast Guard strongly recommends
- That owners and operators carefully inspect
- all of their older Type I unicellular plastic
- foam PFDs.
- Potential indications that a Type I unicellular
- plastic foam PFD may no longer be serviceable
- include
14Item 3 Flotation Devices
- Compression The PFD may be compressed from many
years of stowage. - 2. Loss of resiliency The PFD is excessively
hard, stiff or its foam is brittle. Normally
after compressing the PFD to about half its
initial thickness, the foam should expand to its
original dimension in a short period of time.
15Item 3 Flotation Devices
- 3. Shrinkage A physical reduction in size may be
indicated by wrinkling of the coating on vinyl
dipped type or by a loose fitting shell on a
fabric-covered PFD. - Questions regarding this information may be
addressed to Mr. Marty Jackson, Staff Engineer of
the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Lifesaving
Fire Safety Standards Division at (202) 267.0710
or mjackson_at_comdt.uscg.mil.
16Item 3 Flotation Devices
- PFD INFLATION FAILURE DUE TO FALSE
- POSITIVE SERVICE INDICATORS AND
- INCORRECT CO2 CYLINDER INSTALLATION
- There is a potential problem when installing CO2
- cylinders that have bayonet tips in inflatable
PFDs. - If a cylinder is not properly installed, the PFD
will not - inflate with CO2. The problem may affect several
- thousand PFDs, but the Coast Guard is only aware
of - one incident to date.
17Item 3 Flotation Devices (PFD)
- For Personal Watercraft riders, many states
require that the PFD be worn and they may also
require an impact rating. - Boats 16 Feet or longer, must also
- have one Type IV.
18Item 4 - Visual Distress Signals (VDS)
- Recreational boats 16 feet and over used on
coastal - waters or the Great Lakes require a minimum of
- either
- Three day and 3 night pyrotechnic devices, or 3
combination day/night devices. - Non-pyrotechnic devices day(flag) and one night
(auto SOS light) or - A combination of 1) and 2). Recreational boats
less than 16 feet on coastal waters or the Great
Lakes need only carry night visual distress
signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.
19Item 4 - Visual Distress Signals (VDS)
20Item 4 - Visual Distress Signals Continued
- It is recommended, but not required, that
- boats operating on non-coastal waters should have
- some means of making a suitable day and
- night distress signal.
- The number and type of signals is best judged by
- Considering conditions under which the boat will
be - operating.
21Item 4 - Visual Distress Signals Continued
22Item 4 - Visual Distress Signals Continued
- Night Day
- Strobe light Signal mirror
- Flashlight Red or orange flags
- Lantern Hand signals
- Flares Flares
23Item 4 - Visual Distress Signals
24Item 5 - Fire Extinguishers
25Item 5 - Fire Extinguishers
- Fire extinguishers are required if one of the
following conditions exists - Inboard engine(s)
- Closed compartments that store
- portable fuel tanks
- (3) Double bottom hulls not completely
- sealed or not completely filled with
- flotation material
26Item 5 - Fire Extinguishers Continued
- (4) Closed living space
- (5) Closed stowage compartments that contain
flammable materials or - (6) Permanently installed fuel tanks
- NOTE Fire extinguishers must be serviceable and
should be stored or mounted to be easily
accessible.
27Item 5 - Fire Extinguishers Continued
- Minimum number of extinguishers required
- Boat Length No Fixed System With Fixed
System - Less than 26 One B-1
None - 26 to less than 40 Two B-1 or one B-2
One B-1 - 40 to 65 Three B-1 or
Two B-1 or - One B1 One B-2 One B-2
28Item 6 - Ventilation
- Boats with gasoline engines in closed
- compartments, built after 1 August
- 1980 must have a powered ventilation
- system.
- Those built prior to that date must
- have natural or powered ventilation.
29Item 6 - Ventilation
- Boats with closed fuel tank
- Compartments built after
- August 1, 1978 may meet
- requirements by displaying
- a "certificate of compliance."
- Boats built before that date
- must have either natural or
- powered ventilation in the
- fuel tank compartment.
30Item 7 - Backfire Flame Control
- All gasoline powered inboard/outboard
- or inboard motor boats must be
- equipped with an approved backfire
- flame control device. Must be clean and not oily.
31Item 8 - Sound Producing Devices / Bell
-
- To comply with Navigation Rules and for
distress signaling purposes all boats must carry
a sound producing device (whistle, horn, siren,
etc.) capable of a 4-second blast audible for ½
mile.
32Item 8 - Sound Producing Devices / Bell, Horn
33Item 8 - Sound Producing Devices
- Recent changes in the Navigation Rules
effectively have changed the requirements for the
carriage of a bell on both International, and by
default, Inland waters. State laws may still
require bell. -
34Item 8 - Sound Producing Devices Bell
Boats 20 meters and over are required to carry a
bell of 300 mm minimum diameter. Boats from 12
to less than 20 meters are not required to carry
a bell (check your state regulations) but must be
able to make the appropriate bell sound when
operating under the Inland Navigation Rules.
35Item 9 - Navigation Lights
- All boats must be able to display navigation
lights between sunset and sunrise and in
conditions of reduced visibility. - Boats 16 feet or more in length must have
properly installed, working navigation lights and
an all-around anchor light capable of being lit
independently from the red/green/white "running"
lights.
36Item 9 - Navigation Lights
37Item 10 - Pollution Placard
-
- Boats 26 feet and over must
- display an oily waste
- "pollution" placard.
38Item 10 - Pollution Placard
39Item 11 - MARPOL Trash Placard
- Boats 26 feet and over in length must display
a "MARPOL" trash placard. - Oceangoing Boats 40 feet and over must also
display a written trash disposal plan.
40Item 11 - MARPOL Trash Placard
41Item 12 - Marine Sanitation Devices
- Any installed toilet
- must be a Coast
- Guard approved
- device.
- Overboard discharge
- outlets must be
- capable of being
- sealed.
42Item 13 - Navigation Rules
- Boats 39.4 feet and over , when operating on
Inland Waters, must have on board a current copy
of the Navigation Rules.
43Item 13 - Navigation RulesRules of the Road
- CAPT Glenn Wiltshire, the Captain of the Port
and the Commanding Officer of Sector New York
said, - "While I want all boaters to enjoy the
waterways in our area, recent increases in
reports of commercial vessels having to take
evasive actions to avoid small boats in the
channel are of great concern to me. I ask that
all boaters be aware of their position and remain
outside the main channels to ensure the continued
safety of all waterway users. We don't want to
wait for a tragedy to occur."
44Item 14 - State and/ or Local Requirements
- These requirements must be met before the
"Vessel Safety Check" decal can be awarded. - A boat must meet the requirements of the state
in which it is being examined.
45Item 15 - Overall Vessel Condition
- Deck free of hazards and clean bilge
- The boat must be free from fire hazards, in
good overall condition, with bilges reasonably
clean and visible hull structure generally sound.
The use of automobile parts on boat engines is
not acceptable. The engine horsepower must not
exceed that shown on the capacity plate.
46Item 15 - Overall Vessel Condition
- Safe Electrical and Fuel Systems
- The electrical system - Must be protected by
- fuses or manual reset circuit breakers.
- Switches and fuse panels must be protected
- from rain or water spray. Wiring must be in
- good condition, properly installed and with
- no exposed areas or deteriorated insulation.
-
47Item 15 - Overall Vessel Condition
- Safe Electrical and Fuel Systems
- Batteries must be secured and terminals
- covered to prevent accidental arcing
- All PWCs require an operating self circling or
- kill switch mechanism.
48Item 15 - Overall Vessel Condition
49Item 15 - Overall Vessel Condition
- Fuel Systems - Portable fuel tanks (normally 7
gallon capacity or less) must be constructed of
non-breakable material and free of corrosion and
leaks. - All vents must be capable of being closed. The
tank must be secured and have a vapor-tight,
leak-proof cap. Each permanent fuel tank must be
properly ventilated.
50Item 15 - Overall Vessel Condition
- Safe Galley and Heating Systems
- System and fuel tanks must be properly secured
with no flammable materials nearby.
51Additional Discussion Items
- Marine Radio
- Dewatering Device and Back-up
- Mounting Fire Extinguishers
- Anchor and Line
- Capacity/Certificate of Compliance
52Additional Discussion Items
- Accident Reports/Owner Responsibility
- The boat owner retains responsibility for what
- occurs on their boat, even when they are not
- present.
- Offshore Operations
- Boat operators are required by law to extend
- help to other boaters in distress. Failure to
- assist is a felony punishable by fines and/or
- prison.
53Additional Discussion Items
- Fueling/Fuel Management
- Refuel portable tanks away from the vessel.
- Close all hatches and openings before fueling.
- Dont smoke while fueling.
- Turn off engines, electrical systems, and any
spark producing items. - Remove all passengers.
- Keep the fill nozzle in contact with the tank and
clean up any spills.
54Additional Discussion Items
- Fueling/Fuel Management
- After Fueling
- Open all hatches and openings
- Check bilges and sniff test boat for fuel vapor
- Run blowers for at least 4 minutes before
- starting engine
- Always use the One Third Rule
- One third of fuel going out
- One third of fuel for coming back
- One third of fuel as a reserve
55Additional Discussion Items
- Insurance Considerations
- Most States require proof of Insurance before you
- can register your boat.
- Coverage should include
- Loss of, or damage to, boat
- Loss of, or damage to, equipment
- Liability Coverage personal injury and property
- Medical coverage
- Towing over both land and water
56Additional Discussion Items
57Additional Discussion Items
- Carbon Monoxide
- CO symptoms are similar to seasickness or alcohol
intoxication? - CO can affect you whether you're underway,
moored, or anchored? - You cannot see, smell, or taste CO?
- CO can make you sick in seconds. In high enough
concentrations, even a few breaths can be fatal?
58Additional Discussion Items Carbon Monoxide
- Each Time You Go On a Boat Trip
- Make sure you know where CO exhaust outlets are
located on your vessel. - Educate all passengers about the symptoms of CO
poisoning and where CO may accumulate. - When docked, or rafted with another boat, be
aware of exhaust emissions from the other boat. - Confirm that water flows from the exhaust outlet
when the engines and generator are started. - Listen for any change in exhaust sound, which
could indicate an exhaust component failure. - Test the operation of each CO alarm by pressing
the test button.
59Additional Discussion Items
- Carbon Monoxide Hazards caused by
- Generator Exhaust
- Remind Recreational Boaters about Carbon Monoxide
Hazards - caused by Generator Exhaust. The Coast Guard
advises - owners and operators of boats to turn off
gasoline-powered - generators with transom exhaust ports when the
swim - platform on the stern is in use. Swimmers should
not enter - the cavity of a boat designed with a generator
emitting - exhaust into the cavity between the swim platform
and the - transom of the vessel.
60FILE A FLOAT PLAN
- A float plan contains information about the
operator and the vehicle used to transport the
vessel as well as the vessel itself. -
- The plan also includes the expected route of
travel along with a date and time of arrival and
departure. Taking a few minutes to post a float
plan with friends or loved ones is a great life
insurance policy.
61CHECK THE WEATHER
- Monitor and evaluate weather conditions.
- Purchase a waterproof and portable weather radio
or use a VHF radio that has a weather channel. - Check sky and sea conditions and never operate in
an environment that exceeds personal capability.
62FIRST AID KITPack a waterproof First Aid kit
and insure that it is secured to your boat.
In addition to the kit consider completing basic
first aid training and CPR
63VHF Radio, GPS, Compass
- Bring along electronic communication and
navigation devices such as a VHF Radio, GPS, and
Cellular Phone. - Include a waterproof hand held compass as a back
up in case
64CHARTS
- When operating in coastal waters or navigable
rivers, carry a chart and try to obtain local
knowledge of waterway conditions. -
- Familiarize yourself with basic coastal
navigation procedures.
65OTHER ITEMS
66BOATING SAFETY COURSE
- All boaters should be encouraged to take a
Boating Safety Course such as Americas Boating
Course.
67CLEAN UP
- Pack a trash bag. Take all refuse away with you.
- Leave every stop or campsite cleaner than when
you found it.
68- The Vessel Safety Check Program is an important
assist to Homeland Security and the active Coast
Guard - Preventive Search and Rescue saves lives and
also creates opportunities for our limited active
Coast Guard resources to conduct missions other
than Search and Rescue, which is extremely
valuable within the current maritime security
environment... - Capt. David B.
Hill, CHDIRAUX
69(No Transcript)
70- VSC Review
- Vessel Examination Division
- USCG Auxiliary, V-Department
-
- United States Power Squadrons
- The VSC-DEPT. ------WE DELIVER!
Peter Urgola DC-V